More folks than ever want to break out of their full-time, hours-for-dollars gig in order to pursue their passion, follow their muse, and live a more integrated life by creating a future aligned with their vision.
Many of these folks got that way as a direct result of another growing trend. This is where long-tenured (read: 10 to 20-year) corporate employees “see the writing on the wall” with regard to the quality of their corporate employee experience.
Specifically, their own employment experience is becoming “less worth it” by the day, the cost of the job outweighing its benefit. This is exactly what happened to us.
Hoodoo you think you are?
rise of the journeypreneur
Anymore, this concept isn’t radical or head-in-the-clouds. Corporate citizens and soldiers around the world are awakening to a markedly deteriorated work-life experience due to foundational shifts in company, economy, industry, geo-politics, all of the above, or something else completely.
This is good news. Really it is. Particularly for the competent among us.
Good for managers (as well as non-managers) and leaders who are people-people, and students of self-development. Good for folks who do well in leadership roles, have a broad base of professional experience, and who know they can leverage that expertise, if not in their own business, then an enterprise more aligned with their vision for their work.
If they’re not being invited to leave their jobs through any number of circumstances (e.g., restructuring), then they may volunteer their own proactive exit in search of something more aligned with their vision and values.
Family time in the forest
fortune favors the bold
Any endeavor to break out of a routine, or out of a particular orbit, to make a leap, big or small, takes at least a little boldness.
Throughout my life and career I’ve tried to make a habit of getting outside my comfort zone.
I heard early on that if I do the things most people won’t (e.g., public speaking, learning to sell, investing in real estate, starting a business), I’d one day be able to do the things most people can’t (e.g., time freedom, passive income).
Truth is, when it came time to make our leap, we were no strangers to being a little bold, taking a chance, moving in the strategic direction of our dreams, working-to-learn rather than working-to-earn, getting out of our comfort zones.
Our seemingly BOLD step was really a culmination. The latest in a long line of more-or-less bold efforts.
Self-directed learning? Check.
won’t I need a lot of money?
And of course, in addition to good old fashioned boldness, you need some financial resources, too. Though, not nearly as many as you might imagine. In fact, embracing the physical journey – that is living on the road for a preset period of time – some call it vagabonding – is one of the most affordable lifestyles you can take on.
This is one of those truths that’s obvious in hindsight, but otherwise not immediately obvious to the working person. When you choose to live on the road, many of your largest expenditures disappear overnight.
Of course, it might not work like this for everybody, depending on their debt, etc. For example, one of the biggest barriers to becoming a Journeypreneur is owning a house you can neither sell for more than you owe, nor rent out for more than your monthly mortgage payment.
Not saying this is an automatic showstopper. But, if this type of financial predicament doesn’t make long-term travel impossible, it certainly makes the effort more complicated.
If you’re a long-tenured corporate citizen/soldier who’s no stranger to (at least a little) boldness, leadership, managerial and financial acumen, then you likely aren’t upside down in debt, anyway. And you may even have access to additional financial resources and leverage.
And I’ll say it again: it takes far less money than you might imagine.
Among redwoods. The 5th Beatle (2006 Sequoia)
a story worth choosing
This was the exact situation we found ourselves in. We had a great income, but no time freedom to show for it. Nor was I, personally, in great health. (Twenty years behind a keyboard can do that for you.)
So, we transitioned out of the corporate employment business, and into the busy-ness of embarking upon, and documenting, our journey-to-the-heart. Of choosing to create a story worth telling, and then telling it!
Dam! Contemplating hydroelectricity generation at-scale
‘niching down’
One of the strongest aspects of our niche is, we became Journeypreneurs with our kids in tow. We lived outside of our own home for three full years on two continents, and as a family of four.
We traveled a LOT during that time (that was sort of the point), but we also interspersed “real life” in between by living and working (and having our children attend school) in Europe, and spending time with our extended families on both continents.
If we can do it, so can you.
We hope to demonstrate by example that, while you probably imagine you have to “to wait until the kids are grown,” its just not true. Experience and education more compelling than roadschool would be hard to imagine.
Portland public parks
so what’s next?
Quick! Answer these questions. Do you have…
- a successful career behind you,
- managerial or leadership experience,
- some savings in the bank (you’ll need less than you think)
- skills and talents you’re sure you could leverage in your own business, venture, or project
If yes, then we implore you. Act boldly. Take a step in the direction of your dreams and watch as the universe conspires to meet you halfway. If you need guidance and support along the way, just reach out 🙂
We’re happy to help any way we can.
meantime…food for thought:
A few more powerful questions:
- Have you really given yourself permission to be, do, and have? Or, does the space-for-something-new in your life tell a different story?
- What new information do you need? Who do you need to have a conversation(s) with?
- Are you willing to serve selflessly? What act of service can you perform that’s completely unrelated to the change you desire in your own life?
permission (allowance) gives rise to conversation (engagement) which gives rise to service (value for you and others)
can we keep in touch? (join our list?)
One of the best ways to keep in touch is to join our email list. We send out a couple of communications each month that we’re sure will add value to your journey. Our list is private and personal. We wouldn’t know how to sell your email, even if we wanted to. (We don’t, really.) It’ll be fun, and you can unsubscribe any time you like. Let’s Rumble!
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